Pickering's three-hour parking limit suspended during COVID-19 pandemic

Thestar.com
May 26, 2021
Kristen Calis

A Pickering resident is questioning why, when the Town of Ajax is tightening its parking rules, the City of Pickering has loosened its own.

Pickering resident Kermit Canam has called the city to enforce the three-hour parking limit with no tickets being issued. He says during a provincewide lockdown, it seems Pickering is encouraging people to stay longer where they are visiting, even though they should be staying home.

“You’re basically saying, ‘It’s OK, yes come and park here for a number of hours a day. We won’t tag you,’” he says.

This frustrates Canam, especially when Ajax is now charging $20 for non-residents to park at the waterfront.

It's true, Pickering is not currently enforcing the three-hour parking limit (or overnight parking) throughout the municipality.

Jason Litoborski, acting manager of municipal law enforcement services, says the parking regulation has been suspended due to the stay-at-home order by the Province of Ontario. Pickering has been adapting the parking rules as the regulations by the province change throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our intention with the suspension with the three-hour parking is to accommodate people who are being told they have to work from home and stay home,” he says. “This sometimes results in homeowners having more vehicles at their property at any given time than they usually would.”

Litoborski explains often times, residents may have to park on the street as a result.

“We’re trying to be as reasonable and accommodating to residents who are facing a difficult situation with the stay-at-home order and lockdown,” he says.

The city will be enforcing the ‘no parking’ rules in areas near the busy waterfront and by popular parks.

Canam also finds a lack of by-law officers present in the evenings.

“I think it’s the only town or city that doesn't have enforcement at night time," he says.

“I don’t think the city is doing enough and they should be."
Litoborski says the city has hired four new summer enforcement officers and they are now training for the job. Hours will be extended from 8 p.m. seven days a week to 9:30 p.m. seven days a week.

As restrictions are lifted, the city will consider enforcing the three-hour limit again, as well as extending enforcement hours.

“It is something that is constantly re-evaluated,” Litoborski says.

He adds the city does not condone gatherings. It will investigate complaints of gatherings of less than 15 people. Durham police are called when larger groups are reported.